Nobrow Blog

We’ll be at the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute (running January 22 to 25) in Memphis, Tennessee. Say hello to US Sales and Marketing Associate Director, Hannah Moushabeck on Meet the Presses Day: January 25, 9:15am to 12pm; 1:30pm to 7pm. Booksellers will have the opportunity to meet with Hannah for an informal conversation, and pick up an advance copy of Professor Astro Cat’s Human Body Odyssey (forthcoming in March).

Then, running from February 9 to 12, Nobrow will be in Denver, Colorado for the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting. Come say hello to us at Booth #1111in the Exhibit Hall at the Colorado Convention Center! Pick up a poster, buttons, and enter our raffle for a chance to win our full Hilda series and a Hilda doll.

We hope to catch you at one of these events. You won’t want to miss this chance at an early sneak peek of our Spring 2018 list of children’s books and graphic novels!

We’ll be out there rubbing elbows with all the greats of independent comics. Check out the talent on that incredible guest list, and make sure to drop by our spot at TABLE A11 in the ARC building at the Pratt Institute. Team NOBROW will be out there in full force, to give you a look at all of our greatest hits as well as some brand new favorites that we know you’ll love!

To mark the launch of Out of Nothing, Daniel Locke & David Blandy’s impressive millennia-spanning graphic novel, we have teamed up with THECUBE to put on an exhibition of original artwork and prints, and a series of events.

Drawing Experiments – Family Workshop
Saturday 11th November, 2-4pm
Join graphic novelist Daniel Locke or a family centred afternoon of drawing and fun. This comic book art workshop is inspired by his new book Out of Nothing. Illustrator and author Daniel Locke will introduce you and your kids to experimental drawing processes and a whole bunch of fun drawing games. The theme of the workshop is: life, the universe and everything!

Book Launch & Exhibition Private View
Tuesday 14th November, from 6.30pm
Join us on Tuesday 14th November to celebrate the book’s release and the opening of the exhibition. The creators will be on hand to tell you all about this fascinating project and to sign copies of their book so come along and meet them!RSVP via Facebook

Round Table Discussion
Wednesday 6th December, 7-8.30pm
Join, Daniel Locke, David Blandy and BBC’s Adam Rutherford, the creative team behind our new epic, graphic novel Out of Nothing as they discuss their collaborative partnership, the formation of the solar system, the death of the last star in the universe and the invention of Hip-Hop.

Surreal sequences take us from Gutenberg’s printing press to Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web, via Picasso, Einstein, DJ Kool Herc and more. Locke and Blandy show how our basic instinct to observe, record, and connect has formed the basis for all human invention and progress.

Available here and in all great (UK) bookshop. US & Canada February 2018.

About THECUBE:
THECUBE is a coworking space in Shoreditch, East London. A home to freelancers and small businesses with an interest in science, technology and design. The coworking space has been designed to provide our members with a calm, welcoming, and friendly place to work. To achieve this they have used natural materials, plants, natural light, high ceilings, and changing art pieces.
THECUBE has several member-led collectives and organises events around three core disciplines – science, technology, and design – to further skill sets with peers, enabling them to grow new talents and learn from equally as talented minds who offer something new.

Dr. Matteo Farinella, co-author and illustrator of the hit graphic novel Neurocomic, will be in attendance at the wonderful Caveat NYC for an evening of conversation about the science and the art of his latest graphic novel, The Senses!

Bring your friends and sit in with Dr. Farinella as he gives you all the nitty-gritty details of our sensory system and what it’s like to put what’s in the body onto the pages of this brand new, totally unique graphic novel experience!

The biggest party in small press comics happens every year in Bethesda, MD and team Nobrow is once again ready to make some noise! In addition to all of the latest Nobrow titles and your old favorites, we’ll be bringing along our friends Sam Bosma (Fantasy Sports series creator and SPX SPECIAL GUEST) and Hamish Steele (creator of the all-new graphic novel PANTHEON) for MAXIMUM THRILLS.

It all goes down September 16th and 17th, and you can catch Sam, Hamish, and the rest of team Nobrow at Table W76-78. Check out our signing schedule:

Join us at The Institute of Light for a very special evening with illustrator Ricardo Cavolo, celebrating the launch of his brand new book, 101 Movies to Watch Before You Die. Taking the form of a diary, the book is a love story told in 101 episodes. Accompanying his vibrant, distinctive illustrations with thoughtful descriptions of each movie, Ricardo takes us on a personal journey through the films that have shaped his life and the lives of his generation.

We’ve teamed up with our London Fields neighbours, The Institute of Light, for this book launch and exclusive film screening. We invited Ricardo to personally select one movie from his top 101 for the occasion… and he chose Tod Browning’s brilliant 1932 film Freaks, calling it a “milestone in his life and career”.

Ricardo Cavolo on Freaks (1932):

“I’m more interested in showing how different people love and laugh than in the revenges they exact. And that’s what Tod Browning shows us. His great clan of people have all been unceremoniously rejected from society, but are taken in by the travelling circus family. In the safety of their new home, they forget all about the so-called ‘normal people’ who ridicule them and they become one big happy family. They’re magical.”

Fresh off the plane from Spain, Ricardo will be introducing the film with a short talk about himself, the book, and why Freaks means so much to him. Ricardo will be signing books after the screening, and you’ll also pick up a free set of temporary tattoos of Ricardo’s illustrations with every purchase of the book.

Born in his father’s painting studio, Ricardo Cavolo has grown up surrounded by art and is now one of the most influential and successful illustrators to come out of Spain. His influences range from outsider art to medieval paintings and tribal art. Cavolo’s work has been exhibited in solo shows across Spain, as well in Montreal, Miami, Basel and London. His distinctive and recognisable work can be seen on everything from José Cuervo tequila bottles to Alexander McQueen scarves and Kaytranada album artwork to murals all around the world. He is also the author / illustrator of 101 Artists to Listen to Before You Die, published by Nobrow in 2015.

​Join us at Libreria Bookshop to celebrate the launch of Moonhead and the Music Machine. A s​ubtle blend between Wayne’s World and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Andrew Rae’s graphic novel is an imaginative and visually poetic take on the high school coming-of-age tale.

​We will be selling ice cold beers.​ Life is a peach when you have a moon for a head…

Joe Todd-Stanton joins us to celebrate the release of his new book, The Secret of Black Rock. Featuring strong female characters, epic adventure and a friendly island(!) this beautiful story is a must for children and adults alike. Come and enjoy a story reading, sea creatures fact sheets and tropical fish collage as part of our Children’s Easter Festival. This event is free however please email to guarantee your spot. Ideal for ages 4-9.

Spring has sprung with The Little Gardener! Author and illustrator Emily Hughes joins us to celebrate the changing seasons and the release of her beautiful new book. As well as a story reading we will be decorating our own plant pots and planting our own sunflower in this fun and educational activity session, part of our Children’s Easter Festival. Perfect for ages 3-7.

Join author and illustrator Jim Stoten to celebrate Mr Tweed’s Busy Day. This search-and-find adventure story is packed with riddles that we need you to help us solve. Tasks will be placed around the children’s section and will include both paper and 3D searches – with Easter themed prizes! This is event forms part of our Children’s Easter Festival. This event is free however please email to guarantee your spot. Perfect for ages 5-9.

Bunnies Galore

Who: Pippa Goodhart

When: Tuesday 11th April, 13:00 -14:00

Where: Waterstones Piccadilly

Rabbits, bunnies, hoppity hops, call them what you like but we LOVE bunnies! This Easter join author Pippa Goodhart for a range of rabbity stories, songs and games to celebrate her new book My Very Own Space as part of our Children’s Easter Festival. This event is free however please email to guarantee your space. Perfect for ages up to 6.

Join us at Libreria for an interstellar drawing workshop with illustrator Tom Clohosy Cole. Based upon his beautiful leporello ‘Space Race’, participants will be invited to draw planets, rockets and all else that might be found amongst the stars, creating their very own concertina book to take home. Suitable for ages 5+

Help illustrator Owen Davey transform the Events Room into an underwater seascape inspired by his book, Smart about Sharks. Learn about different types of marine creatures and create your own using a range of materials.

Foyles x ELCAF is a new collaboration which sees the UK’s largest independent bookshop teaming up with the East London Comic & Arts Festival to celebrate some of the best creative talent in the UK. This year, we open our doors in Chelmsford, London, Birmingham and Bristol to host a series of workshops, talks and one-to-one meetings with illustrators, comic artists and experts in the field. Curated by ELCAF, this eclectic programme aims to celebrate the dynamic work of artists that are making waves in the UK’s independent comic, narrative art and illustration scene. This is the first in the series and is a children’s event focussing on the art of drawing big.

Artist and illustrator, Katie Harnett will be leading a hands-on workshop for budding artists. Katie specialises in children’s books and has worked on both picture books and book covers. Join in the fun of creating a large scale collaborative drawing and learn all about how to ‘draw big’. This event is suitable for children aged 5-10 years.

We have collaborated with Libreria’s risograph artist Jess Fogarty to produce a unique collection of limited edition prints in celebration of our relaunch of this masterwork of graphic invention. These will be exclusively available from Libreria on the night, until they run out! And Robert will be on hand to sign copies of Map of Days (as well as The New Ghost and The Land of Nod).

Robert Hunter’s vivid illustrations tell a dreamlike tale of ancient love, creating a surreal graphic novel unlike any other. Intrigued by its endless tick-tocking, Richard steps into the world behind his grandfather’s clock and discovers the Face of the Earth, trapped there by an eternal longing.

Moved to pity, Richard winds back the clock, changing time forever…

“With its strange symbols, alien landscapes and rich hues that speak of dreams and mystery, Map of Days bewitches’- The Guardian

Start spreadin’ the news! Eda Akaltun, creator of Marcel, is hitting the Big Apple for three days of fun events featuring New York’s favorite French Bulldog, Marcel!

It all starts at 11:30am on Sunday, November 20th at Brooklyn’s POWERHOUSE. Stop in for a very special story time session! Eda will be performing a live reading of her debut picture book, Marcel, and it’s sure to be a fun time. Stick around after the reading to meet Eda and get your own signed copy of Marcel!

Then at 10:30am on Monday, November 21st, Eda will be taking her storytelling talents to FIKA at the TurnStyle concourse below the iconic Columbus Circle! Come by and check out this vibrant Manhattan scene, sitting in the heart of New York’s incredible subway system. (And while you’re there, why not check out our very own kiosk popup shop?)

That’s three stops on Eda’s Marcel tour, and three chances for you to meet Eda and to hear all about that street-wise city-dwelling pup Marcel! We’ll see you there, New York!

WHOA WHOA WHOA SPECIAL UPDATE!We got so excited about meeting all of you, we’re going to be kicking off the Marcel Tour a day early! Join Eda at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 19th at Books Of Wonder for the November Picture Book Bonanaza! Eda will be joining the lineup of picture book authors, ready to show off their great new work. Hope we can catch you there!

ELCAF 2014, the third East London Comics and Arts Festival, is back! Taking place on June 14th at a special new location in East London, the third festival will again be showcasing the plethora of youthful talent in the comics and graphic art scene in London and the UK. It will also bring something fresh to our locals by drawing talent from abroad to take part in the event, inviting exciting new collectives and publishers from Europe and the wider world.

And the big news?! Wait for it… This year’s artist-in-residence is none other than the wonderful Chris Ware! Three is certainly the magic number as Ware is sure to bring a bit of sparkle to this year’s festivities. Keep your ears to the floor and eyes to the skies for Ware’s 2014 ELCAF poster.

The line-up of events will be announced in due course but for now rest assured that it will be rammed with all sorts of immersive encounters with the fascinating worlds of illustration and comics.

Last but not least, we are now accepting submissions from all you talented collectives and publishers! The deadline is the 10 February 2014, so you have just over a month to show us what you’ve got.

On Saturday 31st March, Jack Teagle and Liam Barrett will be at Pick Me Up. They invite you to come draw Exquisite Corpses with a scientific theme. Fun will ensue! They’ll be there all day with pens and paper so relax, take your time, soak in the other excellent exhibits at Pick Me Up, but most of all, enjoy yourself.